Calendar of Events

National Dialogue on Inclusive Youth Policies in Indonesia

This National Dialogue will offer its participants the opportunity to discuss existing policies affecting youth and its implementation at the national level. As part of UNESCO’s strategy to promote policy dialogue initiatives among government, academia, youth and development partners to translate research into policy options, its main objective is to improve the youth policies by integrating development problems such as poverty and inequality, education, and health.

Indonesia is experiencing a “youth bulge” that needs to be taken into account to achieve development goals. The rising numbers of young people have often been considered as trivial. This is a major challenge that will put the country’s future at stake. Consequently, the government is responsible to develop and implement the youth policy that delivers the rights and needs of this young population.

While most countries in Asia-Pacific have some type of youth programming, many programs exist without a policy framework. Policy has an important role in creating the links and frameworks needed in order to establish the resources, strategies and funding to support young people’s needs and rights. Successful programs rely on policy frameworks.

On that account, a national youth policy should be a policy written and owned by a government, young people and other key stakeholders. It demonstrates the country’s commitment to, and strategic directions for, promoting and progressing the well-being and participation of young people. Ideally, it has a vision and objectives to create opportunities for young people to become “skilled, healthy and productive to develop the country and specific strategies to translate the policy into action.”

In general, the Youth Law of Indonesia does not meet common development problems such as poverty and inequality, education, and health. Despite the fact that it responds to employment problems and entrepreneurship encouragement, the law ignores the inequality problems among youth in Indonesia, especially concerning young people from marginalized and vulnerable background such as youth in rural areas, street youth, youth with disabilities, etc.

By organizing this National Dialogue, with the support of the Indonesian Ministry of Youth, UNESCO is not only supporting to bridge this gap at national level, by ensuring that the needs and concerns of the Indonesian youth are better taken into account, but also positioning Indonesian Youth in the United Nations Post-2015 Development Agenda.

Indeed, this project has strong linkages with the Post 2015 Development Agenda, ensuring that youth can express the "future they want" and make their voices heard.